As You Like It – 6th Grade

Adapted by Barbara Cobb from

SCENE 1

OLIVER (33)

ORLANDO (30)

ADAM (12)

CHARLES (31)

Enter ORLANDO and ADAM

ORLANDO

As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashionbequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns,and, as thou sayest, charged my brother, on hisblessing, to breed me well: and there begins mysadness.

ADAM

Your brother Jaques he keeps at school, and

report speaks goldenly of his profit: but you

he keeps rustically at home, or, to speak more

properly, stays you here unkept; for call you

that keeping for a gentleman of your birth, that

differs not from the stalling of an ox?

ORLANDO

This is it, Adam, thatgrieves me; and the spirit of my father, which Ithink is within me, begins to mutiny against thisservitude: I will no longer endure it, though yet Iknow no wise remedy how to avoid it.

ADAM

Yonder comes my master, your brother.

ORLANDO

Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he willshake me up.

Enter OLIVER

OLIVER

Now, sir! what make you here?

ORLANDO

Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing.

OLIVER

What mar you then, sir?

ORLANDO

Marry, sir, I am helping you to mar that which Godmade, a poor unworthy brother of yours, with idleness.

OLIVER

Marry, sir, be better employed, and be naught awhile.

ORLANDO

Shall I keep your hogs and eat husks with them?What prodigal portion have I spent, that I shouldcome to such penury?

OLIVER

Know you where your are, sir?

ORLANDO

O, sir, very well; here in your orchard.

OLIVER

Know you before whom, sir?

ORLANDO

Ay, better than him I am before knows me.

OLIVER

What, boy?! [strikes ORLANDO]

ORLANDO

Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this. [grapples with OLIVER]

OLIVER

Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain?

ORLANDO

I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir

Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice

a villain that says such a father begot villains.

Wert thou not my brother, I would not take this hand

from thy throat till this other had pulled out thy

tongue for saying so: thou hast railed on thyself.

ADAM

Sweet masters, be patient: for your father's

remembrance, be at accord.

OLIVER

Let me go, I say.

ORLANDO

I will not, till I please: you shall hear me. My

father charged you in his will to give me good

education: you have trained me like a peasant. The spirit of my father grows strong in me, and I will no longer endure it: therefore allowme such exercises as may become a gentleman, or give me the poor allottery my father left me bytestament; with that I will go buy my fortunes.

OLIVER

And what wilt thou do? beg, when that is spent?

Well, sir, get you in: I will not long be troubled

with you. Get you with him, you old dog.Exit

ADAM

Is 'old dog' my reward? Most true, I have lost my

teeth in your service. God be with my old master!

he would not have spoke such a word.

Exeunt ORLANDO and ADAM

Enter CHARLES and OLIVER

CHARLES

Good morrow to your worship.

OLIVER

Good Monsieur Charles, what's the new news at the

new court?

CHARLES

There's no news at the court, sir, but the old news:

that is, the old duke Senior is banished by his younger

brotherFrederick the new duke; and three or four loving lordshave put themselves into voluntary exile with Senior,whose lands and revenues enrich the new duke;therefore does Frederick give themthem good leave to wander.

OLIVER

Can you tell if Rosalind, the old duke's daughter, be

banished with her father?

CHARLES

O, no; for the new duke's daughter, Celia, her cousin, so lovesher, being ever from their cradles bred together,that she would have followed her exile, or have diedto stay behind her. Rosalind is at the court, and noless beloved of her uncle Frederick than is his own daughter.

OLIVER

Where will the old duke live?

CHARLES

They say he is already in the forest of Arden, and

a many merry men with him; and there they live like

the old Robin Hood of England: they say many young

gentlemen flock to him every day, and fleet the time

carelessly, as they did in the golden world.

OLIVER

Do you wrestle to-morrow before the new duke?

CHARLES

Marry, do I, sir; and I came to acquaint you with a

matter. I am given, sir, secretly to understand

that your younger brother Orlando hath a disposition

to come in disguised against me to try a fall.

To-morrow, sir, I wrestle for my credit; and he that

escapes me without some broken limb shall acquit him

well. Your brother is but young and tender; and,

for your love, I would be loath to foil him, as I

must, for my own honor, if he come in.

OLIVER

I had myself notice of my brother's purpose herein and

have labored to dissuade him from it, but he is resolute. I'll tell thee, Charles: it is the stubbornest young fellow of France, a secret and villanous contriver against me, his natural brother. I had as lief thou didst break his neck as his finger. And if

thou dost him any slight disgrace, he will practice

against thee by poison, entrap thee by some

treacherous device and never leave thee till he

hath taken thy life by some indirect means or other;

for, I assure thee, and almost with tears I speak

it, there is not one so young and so villanous as my brother Orlando.

CHARLES

I am heartily glad I came hither to you. If he come

to-morrow, I'll give him his payment: if ever he go

alone again, I'll never wrestle for prize more: and

so God keep your worship!

OLIVER

Farewell, good Charles.

Exit CHARLES

Now will I stir this gamester to kill my brother:

for my soul, yet I know not why,hates nothing more than he. Thiswrestler shall clear all: nothing remains but thatI connive to bring the my brother thither; which now I'll go about.

Exit

As You Like It – 6th Grade

Adapted by Barbara Cobb from

Scene 2

LeBeau (19)

Rosalind (23)

Celia (25)

Duke Frederick (17)

Orlando (20)

Charles (2)

CELIA

Here comesMonsieur Le Beau.

Bon jour, Monsieur Le Beau: what's the news?

LE BEAU

Fair princess, you have lost much good sport.

CELIA

Sport! of what color?

LE BEAU

What color, madam! how shall I answer you?

ROSALIND

As wit and fortune will.

LE BEAU

You amaze me, ladies: I would have told you of good

wrestling, which you have lost the sight of.

ROSALIND

You tell us the manner of the wrestling.

LE BEAU

Just now there came an old man and his three sons,--

The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the

duke's wrestler; which Charles in a moment threw him

and broke three of his ribs, that there is little

hope of life in him: and he did the same thing to the second, andthe third. Yonder they lie; the poor old man,their father, making such pitiful dole over them

that all the beholders take his part with weeping.

ROSALIND

Alas!

CELIA

But what is the sport, monsieur, that the ladieshave lost?

LE BEAU

Why, this that I speak of.

ROSALIND

Thus men may grow wiser every day: it is the first

time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport

for ladies.

CELIA

Or I, I promise thee.

ROSALIND

But is there any one else who longs to see this broken

musicin his sides? is there yet another dotes upon

rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, cousin?

LE BEAU

You must, if you stay here; for here is the place

appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to

perform it.

CELIA

Yonder, sure, they are coming: let us now stay and see it.

Flourish. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, ORLANDO, and CHARLES

DUKE FREDERICK

Come on: since the youth will not be dissuaded, his

own peril on his forwardness.

ROSALIND

Is yonder the man? [gesturing toward ORLANDO]

LE BEAU

Even he, madam.

CELIA

Alas, he is too young! yet he looks successfully.

DUKE FREDERICK

How now, daughter and niece! are you crept hither

to see the wrestling?

ROSALIND

Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave.

DUKE FREDERICK

You will take little delight in it, I can tell you;there is such odds in the man. In pity of thechallenger's youth I would fain dissuade him, but hewill not be dissuaded. Speak to him, ladies; see ifyou can move him.

CELIA

Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.

DUKE FREDERICK

Do so: I'll not be by.

LE BEAU

Monsieur the challenger, the princesses call for you.

ORLANDO

I attend them with all respect and duty.

ROSALIND

Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler?

ORLANDO

No, fair princess; he is the general challenger: Icome but in, as others do, to try with him thestrength of my youth.

CELIA

Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your

years. You have seen cruel proof of this man'sstrength. We pray you, for your own sake, toembrace your own safety and give over this attempt.

ROSALIND

Do, young sir; your reputation shall not therefore

bemisprised: we will make it our suit to the duke

that the wrestling might not go forward.

ORLANDO

I beseech you, punish me not with your hard

thoughts; wherein I confess me much guilty, to deny

so fair and excellent ladies any thing. But let

your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my

trial: wherein if I be foiled, there is but one

shamed that was never a nobleman: I shall do my

friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me; I shall do theworld no injury, for in it I have nothing.

ROSALIND

The little strength that I have, I would it were with you.

CHARLES

Come, where is this young gallant that is so

desirous to lie with his mother earth?

ORLANDO

Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more modest working.

DUKE FREDERICK

You shall try but one fall.

They wrestle

ROSALIND

Now Hercules be thy speed, young man!

CELIA

I would I were invisible, to catch the strong

fellow by the leg.

ROSALIND

O excellent young man!

CELIA

If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who

should down.

Shout. CHARLES is thrown

DUKE FREDERICK

No more, no more.

ORLANDO

Yes, I beseech your grace: I am not yet well breathed.

DUKE FREDERICK

How dost thou, Charles?

LE BEAU

He cannot speak, my lord.

DUKE FREDERICK

Bear him away, LeBeau. What is thy name, young man?

ORLANDO

Orlando, my liege; the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.

DUKE FREDERICK

I would thou had been son to some man else:

The world esteem'd thy father honorable,

But I did find him still mine enemy:

I would thou had told me of another father.

Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK, train, and LE BEAU

CELIA

Were I my father, coz, would I do this?

ORLANDO

I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's son,

His youngest son; and would not change that calling,

To be adopted heir to Frederick.

ROSALIND

My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul,

And all the world was of my father's mind:

Had I before known this young man his son,

I should have given him tears unto entreaties,

Ere he should thus have ventured.

CELIA

Gentle cousin,

Let us go thank him and encourage him:

My father's rough and envious disposition

Sticks me at heart. Sir, you have well deserved:

If you do keep your promises in love

But justly, as you have exceeded all promise,

Your mistress shall be happy.

ROSALIND

Gentleman,

Giving him a chain from her neck

Wear this for me, one out of suits with fortune,

That could give more, but that her hand lacks means.

Shall we go, coz?

CELIA

Ay. Fare you well, fair gentleman.

Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA

ORLANDOLeBeau, who was that fair princess who gave me this chain?

LE BEAUThe daughter of the banished Duke Senior, Rosalind.

ORLANDO Fair Rosalind!

As You Like It – 6th Grade

Adapted by Barbara Cobb from

Scene 3

Rosalind, dressed as Ganymed (23)

Celia, dressed as Aliena(6)

Touchstone (14)

Corin(23)

Silvius (19)

ROSALIND

O Jupiter, how weary are my spirits!

TOUCHSTONE

I care not for my spirits, if my legs were not weary.

ROSALIND

I could find in my heart to disgrace my man's

apparel and to cry like a woman; but I must comfort

the weaker vessel, as doublet and hose ought to show

itself courageous to petticoat: therefore courage,good Aliena!

CELIA

I pray you, bear with me; I cannot go no further.

TOUCHSTONE

For my part, I had rather bear with you than bear

you; yet I should bear no cross if I did bear you,

for I think you have no money in your purse.

ROSALIND

Well, this is the forest of Arden.

TOUCHSTONE

Ay, now am I in Arden; the more fool I; when I was

at home, I was in a better place: but travelers must be content.

ROSALIND

Ay, be so, good Touchstone.

Enter CORIN and SILVIUS

Look you, who comes here; a young man and an old in

solemn talk.

CORIN

That is the way to make her scorn you still.

SILVIUS

O Corin, that thou knew how I do love her!

CORIN

I partly guess; for I have loved ere now.

SILVIUS

No, Corin, being old, thou canst not guess,

Though in thy youth thou was as true a lover

As ever sighed upon a midnight pillow:

But if thy love were ever like to mine--

As sure I think did never man love so--

How many actions most ridiculous

Hast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy?

CORIN

Into a thousand that I have forgotten.

SILVIUS

O, thou didst then ne'er love so heartily!

If thou remember not the slightest folly

That ever love did make thee run into,

Thou hast not loved:

Or if thou hast not sat as I do now,

Wearying thy hearer in thy mistress' praise,

Thou hast not loved:

Or if thou hast not broke from company

Abruptly, as my passion now makes me,

Thou hast not loved.

O Phebe, Phebe, Phebe!

Exit

ROSALIND

Alas, poor shepherd! searching of thy wound,

I have by hard adventure found mine own.

TOUCHSTONE

And I mine. We that aretrue lovers run into strange capers; but as all ismortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly.

ROSALIND

Thou speakest wiser than thou art ware of.

TOUCHSTONE

Nay, I shall ne'er be ware of mine own wit till I

break my shins against it.

ROSALIND

Jove, Jove! this shepherd's passion

Is much upon my fashion.

TOUCHSTONE

And mine; but it grows something stale with me.

CELIA

I pray you, one of you question yond man

If he for gold will give us any food:

I faint almost to death.

TOUCHSTONE

Holla, you clown!

ROSALIND

Peace, fool: he's not thy kinsman.

CORIN

Who calls?

TOUCHSTONE

Your betters, sir.

CORIN

Else are they very wretched.

ROSALIND

Peace, I say. Good even to you, friend.

CORIN

And to you, gentle sir, and to you all.

ROSALIND

I prithee, shepherd, if that love or gold

Can in this desert place buy entertainment,

Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed:

Here's a young maid with travel much oppress'd

And faints for succor.

CORIN

Fair sir, I pity her

And wish, for her sake more than for mine own,

My fortunes were more able to relieve her;

But I am shepherd to another man

And do not shear the fleeces that I graze:

My master is of churlish disposition

And little recks to find the way to heaven

By doing deeds of hospitality:

Besides, his cote, his flocks and bounds of feed

Are now for sale, and at our sheepcote now,

By reason of his absence, there is nothing

That you will feed on; but what is, come see.

And in my voice most welcome shall you be.

ROSALIND

I pray thee, if it stand with honesty,

Buy thou the cottage, pasture and the flock,

And thou shalt have to pay for it of us.

CELIA

And we will mend thy wages. I like this place.

And willingly could waste my time in it.

CORIN

Assuredly the thing is to be sold:

Go with me: if you like upon report

The soil, the profit and this kind of life,

I will your very faithful feeder be

And buy it with your gold right suddenly.

As You Like It – 6th Grade

Adapted by Barbara Cobb from

Scene 4

Duke Senior (37)

Jaques (46)

Orlando (32)

Adam (2)

DUKE SENIOR

Why, how now, monsieur! what a life is this,

That your poor friends must woo your company?

What, you look merrily!